My journey of faith (Part 3)

The Holy Spirit said to me: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). I accepted my calling into the ministry in 2005 and preached my first Sermon in 2006. I really understood when I acknowledged my calling at work on a wintery Saturday night in December 2007. I was sitting with an elderly patient overnight. As I was praying and questioning God about my call asking if he called me, I asked Him again to be sure that He called me? Then I asked Him to please give me a sign and give me understanding.

He reminded me that I learned how to read at an early age. He said, “I was preparing you when your Sunday school teacher asked you to read to the class. I was also preparing you when your third grade teacher took you around to read to the fourth grade classes, I was preparing you for the ministry. I was ordained in the ministry in May 2008.

To this day, every time I hear or read the story of Abraham, when God told him to “get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee” (Gen 12:1-4), I am reminded of my call and response to God.

I believe that God has blessed me in the great state of Alaska for 11 years. I left and went back home to Georgia for nine months, trying to bond with my children, but I could not, and I could not afford to pay for my medications there. I came back here where God sent me and have not missed a meal, have not missed back home, have not been without, long enough to complain. God has provided me with my own transportation. Since 2001, I have owned five cars, with two of them being brand new.

God blessed me to come in contact with blessed people of God: Pastor Gracie Jackson, Pastor William Greene and the Eagle River Missionary Baptist Church. I was hired by the ARC of Anchorage almost three years and 10 months to this date, part time.

There is a song that goes like this: “I had some good days, I had some hills to climb, I have had some weary days, and some sleepless nights, but when I look around and think things over, all of my good days, outweigh my bad days, I won't complain, Why? He dries my tears away, and he turn my midnights into day, I can say Thank you Lord.” I've had four surgeries, diabetes, overweight issues. Thank you, Lord! I don't have friends I thought I had. Thank you, Lord. I walk with pain some days every step I take, but thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord, I won't complain. This is my journey of faith.

Amen!

This column is the opinion of Rev. Irma J. Register of Eagle River Missionary Baptist Church.